Public overwhelmingly expects more extreme flooding events

An overwhelming number of New Zealanders (91%) are expecting more extreme flooding events to happen more frequently as the world grapples with the repercussions of climate change.

About half of respondents (48%) to the latest IAG-Ipsos Climate Change poll released yesterday felt the Government had the greatest responsibility to act against climate change, up from 25% five years ago, but the national response was either not appropriate or hadn’t been fast enough.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw said the results underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the phenomenon, with just 34% of Kiwis deeming Government action on the issue as adequate.

‘‘We need to provide communities with the tools they need to play for the future and for the climate impacts we know we cannot avoid.

Some climate impacts are already being experienced by communities all over the country,’’ Shaw said.

There was also a clear expectation that both central and local governments should do more to protect people by investing in things like flood protection measures and building infrastructure.

Over the past four years, the poll results have shown a 10% growth in those wanting local councils to zone land to reduce and avoid climate change’s impact (now 74%) and consent developments that achieved the same objective (69%), Amanda Whiting, chief executive for insurance companies NZI, State and AMI, said.

‘‘A growing number of people – up to 53% this year – acknowledge that those living in badly affected areas may be required to move, but there are mixed views on who should pay,’’ she said.

Victoria University of Wellington climate scientist Professor James Renwick wasn’t surprised to see a large increase in the numbers of Kiwis recognising the impact of climate change.

However, fewer New Zealanders were taking individual action to combat climate change’s effects, despite 78% of people agreeing that it was an important issue for them personally. In the past year, the number of people prepared to act to reduce the impacts of climate change on themselves personally fell from 69% to 64%, mirroring a steady decline seen in those already taking steps to reduce climate impacts – dropping 9% over the past two years to 50%.